Unbelievably Easy Instant Pot Bread Pudding

This Instant Pot bread pudding recipe is unbelievably easy! If you’re looking for a classic baked dessert that is moist and delicious, this bread pudding cooks in less than an hour.

I’m going to be honest – I had never tried bread pudding before this recipe. When my mom told me that we were going to make Instant Pot bread pudding, I was doubtful . . . I wasn’t sure how 1) how delicious pudding could possibly be with bread in it and 2) how cooking bread pudding in the Instant Pot was going to work. But my mother, per usual, was quite determined to convince me as bread pudding is her favorite dessert of all time. How have I known my mother for 41 years now and I never knew how much she liked bread pudding??

When she brought the ingredients for the Instant Pot bread pudding over to my house, she pulled out one thing that really intrigued me and make me think “this is going to be good”: a loaf of cinnamon bread. I’m a huge fan of cinnamon bread and it’s a key ingredient in this bread pudding recipe. And what’s the advantage of cooking it in the Instant Pot? Well, with this bread pudding you can just toss all of the ingredients into the pot, press a button and forget it. Then when you open the lid, prepare to receive the most delicious smell . . . and a moist bread with a perfect crust. I’m all about the tasty crust on the outside with the soft, delicious bread on the inside. Can you tell I quickly became a BP convert?

Note: if you have to buy bread for this recipe anyway, which we did, it’s easier to just buy a loaf of cinnamon bread. We find that cinnamon bread has a harder crust typically, and so is easy to cut into chunks. You don’t have to wait for it to go slightly stale so you can cut it. However if you already have bread you’d like to use, then you’ll just need 3/4 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (also added in the recipe below).

In a separate bowl, mix the evaporated milk, eggs, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice. Pour over the bread, mix thoroughly, and soak for an hour in the refrigerator.

Spray your Instant Pot with cooking spray and pour in the mixture. Place the three pats of butter on top.

Close the lid of your Instant Pot, press the Multigrain function and adjust to 40 minutes.

Open the lid of your Instant Pot and check the inside of the bread. If it’s moist, it’s done! If it’s still too wet, close the Instant Pot and cook again for 5 minutes. Once the bread pudding is fully cooked, turn off the Instant Pot and let cool.

Bread Pudding Sauce

Place a pot on medium heat on the stove. Add the butter, sugar, and vanilla extract. Heat and stir until fully melted and thickened, about 5 – 8 minutes. Cut the bread pudding into 8 pieces and then drizzle the sauce over each piece. Serve.

Vanilla Sauce

Some people have asked about a vanilla sauce for this recipe. To make it, add 1/2 stick butter, 1/2 c white sugar, 1/4 brown sugar, 1/2 cup whipping cream, and 1 tsp vanilla extract to a saucepan. Heat and stir until fully melted and thickened, about 5 – 8 minutes. Drizzle the sauce over each piece.

This Instant Pot bread pudding just looks amazing. And it tastes better than it looks! I find that this bread pudding stores well in the refrigerator in a plastic container for a few days. I’d make the sauce right when you serve it as it doesn’t keep well.

Pour over the bread, mix thoroughly, and soak for an hour in the fridge.

Spray your Instant Pot with cooking spray and pour in the mixture.

Place the three pats of butter on top.

Close the lid of your Instant Pot, press the Multigrain function and adjust to 40 minutes.

Open the lid of your Instant Pot and check the inside of the bread. If it's moist, it's done! If it's still too wet, close the Instant Pot and cook again for 5 minutes.

Once the bread pudding is fully cooked, turn off the Instant Pot and let cool.

For the Drizzle Sauce

Place a pot on medium heat on the stove. Add the butter, sugar, and vanilla extract. Heat and stir until fully melted and thickened, about 5 - 8 minutes.

Cut the bread pudding into 8 pieces and then drizzle the sauce over each piece. Serve.

I have to say, I’m a convert now. I see why this Instant Pot dessert is my mom’s favorite recipe of all time. If you try her Instant Pot bread pudding, let me know in the comments. She’ll be absolutely thrilled!